Commissioning Support
Verifying that a hospital's built systems perform to design intent before clinical handover.
Commissioning support helps a hospital project prove that its built systems are installed, adjusted and performing to the design intent the planning and design work promised: HVAC and air handling for clinical rooms including operating, imaging and critical areas, medical gas supply, power, backup and distribution, water and drainage, fire safety, IT and specialist clinical plant. For each system it defines what the system must demonstrate during commissioning, prepares test schedules and acceptance criteria, witnesses the performance testing with contractors and equipment suppliers, records results and defects, and tracks snags to closure before clinical areas hand over. It connects commissioning results to what operators and the readiness teams need: system manuals, operating data, training and open-item lists. It is the verification stage between construction and operation. It is distinct from design coordination, which resolves clashes between drawings, from the equipment programme, which decides what to buy, and from project handover, which is the transfer of the project at completion. Commissioning decisions are anchored in the project's own design and performance documents; the service commits to no specific test standards or values.
What this service covers
- Commissioning scope by system: HVAC, medical gases, power, water, fire and IT
- Critical clinical environments: operating suites, imaging, ICU and isolation areas
- Test schedule development per system
- Acceptance criteria agreed before testing begins
- Witnessing of performance testing with contractors and suppliers
- Results recording and defect and snag tracking to closure
- Interface management between contractors, suppliers and operators
- Data for system manuals, operating records and operator training
- Open-item lists handed to operators and readiness teams
- Documented commissioning support log as the deliverable
Our process
- Identify the systems and clinical environments in commissioning scope
- Agree the test schedules and acceptance criteria per system
- Coordinate the testing sequence with construction completion
- Witness and record the performance testing
- Track defects and re-tests to closure
- Hand over results, manuals and open items to the operators
Frequently asked questions
What does commissioning support include?
Defining what each building system must demonstrate, preparing test schedules and acceptance criteria, witnessing performance testing, recording results, tracking snags to closure and handing the findings to operators.
When is it needed?
Between construction completion and clinical opening, and again when systems are modified, expanded or re-commissioned.
How is it different from project handover?
Project handover transfers the project, its assets and documentation at completion. Commissioning support verifies that the systems perform before clinical areas open, and its results feed into handover and readiness.
How is it different from architectural or MEP coordination?
Coordination reconciles the design drawings so disciplines fit together. Commissioning verifies that the built systems actually perform to the design intent promised.
What inputs are required?
The design and performance intent per system, construction completion dates, contractor and supplier test plans, and the clinical opening schedule.